J&K SIA arrests operative in LoC narco-terror financing network after 4-year hunt
Synopsis
After nearly four years on the run, a key operative in a Hizbul Mujahideen-linked narco-terror financing network has been arrested by SIA Kashmir. The probe — stretching from a 1 kg heroin seizure in Sopore to Pakistan/PoK-based handlers — now carries an Interpol Red Corner Notice, signalling this is far bigger than a routine drug bust.
Key Takeaways
SIA Kashmir arrested Manoj Kumar Bhat alias Pintu of Bakshi Nagar, Jammu on 18 August after he allegedly evaded arrest for nearly four years .
Bhat is accused of facilitating narcotics sale and distribution in the Jammu division to fund terrorist activities linked to Hizbul Mujahideen .
The network allegedly involves Pakistan/PoK-based handlers , including Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo and Manzoor Ahmad Khan .
Recoveries include 1 kg heroin , 7 kg poppy straw , 4 kg poppy seeds , and 15 grams of heroin from Bhat's premises.
An Interpol Red Corner Notice has been secured against handler Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo in a separate terror case.
Multiple charge-sheets have already been filed against six accused ; the SIA investigation remains ongoing.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir on Tuesday, 18 August arrested an absconding operative allegedly involved in a cross-border narco-terror financing network, marking a significant breakthrough in its probe into the smuggling of narcotics across the Line of Control (LoC) and the funnelling of drug proceeds into terrorist activities.
The Arrest
The accused, Manoj Kumar Bhat alias Pintu, son of P.K. Bhat of Rehari Colony, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu, was apprehended during a special operation conducted in Jammu. According to the SIA, Bhat had reportedly been evading arrest for nearly four years. He was wanted in connection with an FIR registered on 3 June 2022 pertaining to the smuggling and distribution of narcotics and the channelling of proceeds towards terror financing.
The agency said the arrest followed sustained efforts involving technical surveillance, human intelligence, and coordinated investigative measures.
The Narco-Terror Network
The SIA investigation has uncovered what it describes as a wider narco-terror conspiracy allegedly involving Pakistan/PoK-based operatives linked with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). According to the agency, narcotics were allegedly trafficked into Jammu and Kashmir, distributed through a local network, and the proceeds subsequently channelled towards sustaining the terrorist ecosystem.
Bhat allegedly played a role in facilitating the sale and distribution of narcotics across the Jammu division. Investigators have also established links with Pakistan/PoK-based terrorist handlers, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo alias Kandoo, son of Abdul Khaliq Kandoo of Kralteng, Sopore, and Manzoor Ahmad Khan, son of late Abdul Majeed Khan of Braman Panzala village, Baramulla.
Evidence and Prior Recoveries
The case was initially registered following the recovery of 1 kg of heroin from Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi and Waseem Ahmad Khan at Nowpora in Sopore. Subsequent investigation led to the further recovery of 7 kg of poppy straw and 4 kg of poppy seeds. Separately, SIA had earlier recovered 15 grams of heroin from the residential premises of Bhat himself. One motorcycle and electronic gadgets were also seized and are currently undergoing forensic and technical examination.
The SIA had filed multiple charge-sheets before the competent court against Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi, Waseem Ahmad Khan, Bashir Ahmad Koli, Mohammad Ashraf Lone, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Zafraan Khan for judicial determination.
Interpol Red Corner Notice and Next Steps
In a parallel development, SIA Kashmir has secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against terrorist handler and narco-terror operative Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo in a separate terror-related case — a move that significantly raises international pressure on the accused.
The agency stated that the latest arrest is expected to help investigators uncover further layers of the alleged conspiracy, trace the financial trail, and identify the complete chain connecting narcotics trafficking with terror financing. The SIA confirmed that its investigation remains ongoing and that efforts will continue to identify and apprehend all persons allegedly involved in the network.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the Interpol Red Corner Notice against Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo — an acknowledgement that the network's command layer sits beyond Indian jurisdiction, in Pakistan or PoK. The SIA's framing of this as a 'narco-terror' case, rather than a conventional drugs bust, reflects a deliberate prosecutorial strategy: linking drug proceeds to terror financing carries far heavier legal consequences and signals a broader counter-terror intent. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the local distribution layer — the fact that a network rooted in cross-LoC trafficking required Jammu-based facilitators to function. Dismantling that local layer, not just the handlers, is the harder and more consequential task.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manoj Kumar Bhat and why was he arrested?
Manoj Kumar Bhat, also known as Pintu, is a Jammu-based operative arrested by SIA Kashmir on 18 August for his alleged role in distributing narcotics in the Jammu division and channelling the proceeds to fund terrorist activities. He had reportedly been evading arrest for nearly four years since an FIR was registered against him on 3 June 2022.
What is the narco-terror network that SIA Kashmir has uncovered?
According to SIA Kashmir, the network allegedly involves Pakistan/PoK-based operatives linked to Hizbul Mujahideen who trafficked narcotics into Jammu and Kashmir. The drugs were distributed locally and the proceeds used to sustain terrorist activities. The probe began after a 1 kg heroin seizure in Sopore and has since expanded significantly.
Who are the Pakistan/PoK-based handlers named in the investigation?
The SIA has identified two Pakistan/PoK-based handlers: Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo of Kralteng, Sopore, and Manzoor Ahmad Khan of Braman Panzala village, Baramulla. Both are accused of facilitating the trafficking of narcotics from PoK into Jammu and Kashmir. An Interpol Red Corner Notice has been secured against Kandoo in a separate terror-related case.
What drugs and evidence have been recovered in this case?
Recoveries include 1 kg of heroin from Zeeshan Ahmad Sofi and Waseem Ahmad Khan in Sopore, 7 kg of poppy straw, 4 kg of poppy seeds, and 15 grams of heroin from Bhat's residential premises. A motorcycle and electronic gadgets have also been seized and are undergoing forensic examination.
What happens next in the SIA Kashmir investigation?
The SIA has confirmed the investigation is ongoing. The agency aims to trace the financial trail, uncover further layers of the alleged conspiracy, and apprehend all remaining accused. Multiple charge-sheets have already been filed against six individuals, and Bhat's arrest is expected to yield new leads.
